The trinity of knowing (I)

The trinity of knowing (I) I describe a trinity firstly as something that has three components but is really one, secondly that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and lastly that there are relationships among the components. We know of course by reason (logic), but also by intuition and by experience. In mathematics we talk about conjectures which, before they are proved or disproved are nothing but pure intuition. Actually Einstein discovered the theory of relativity by intuition, and then went on to prove it1 That we learn by experience, is clear when we talk about the school of hard knocks. “My experience taught me not to do that!" Some philosophers have tried to say that reason is the only way that we know. But in fact the only way we can “know” that “reason is the only way we know,” is by choosing to believe it. It cannot be proved by logic or reason!

Reason is inevitably based on (often hidden) presuppositions which may or may not be true. In fact, our logic can be correct, but the conclusions may still be false. We all have presuppositions, world views that we may or may not be aware of. Mine are that God created the heavens and the earth, and that He Has revealed Himself in and through what I believe to be His Word, the Bible. Scientists who refuse to consider even the possibility of intelligent design, are assuming from the beginning, that my presuppositions are wrong. And some, using a circular argument of the type “the moon is made of green cheese, therefore the moon is made of green cheese,” then claim that there is no God. It is of course, a bit more subtle this! In the end though, neither of these positions can be proved nor, interestingly enough, disproved by reason. In the end they are either believed or disbelieved by faith, even if we are reluctant to admit it.

Both intuition and experience can be wrong too. In particular, a mathematical conjecture may be wrong, and some are. Someone who is told that he is a loser, can “prove” it by experience. In particular it can be a self-fulfilling prophesy. I mean because he “knows” he is a loser, he doesn’t give his best, and because of this he fails. This reinforces his belief that he is a loser. Coming back to reason, I have observed, that many people for all practical purposes, may as well hold to the position that reason is the only way we can know. We do this when the only method we use to try and win an argument is logic. We Christians do this, when we hope to win unbelievers through apologetics (the defence of the faith). I’m not saying any of this is wrong, just inadequate because it’s using only one of the three ways that we know. Knowing is of course more certain when the three ways of knowing are correct, and re-enforce each other. More to come!

Father, the Scriptures tell us that we can “know” the love of God that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:19). And what I think You are telling me Father, is that the mystery of certainty in Christ, is far, far greater than my way of thinking of knowing as trinity. But I pray this morning Lord for myself, and all those reading this blog, that we would be strengthened by might by Your Spirit in the inner man, that Christ would dwell in our hearts by faith, that we would know the multidimensional love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that we might be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16-19). Take us deeper Lord in Jesus Name Amen